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< Back Jon Gray Jon Gray Cherokee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Jon Gray played a key role in the Texas Rangers' early-season success and into the World Series in 2023, both on the field and behind the scenes. His gentle and soft-spoken demeanor belies the quiet leadership and accountability that he brings to the Texas clubhouse. Through June 8, 2023, Gray ranked among American League leaders in ERA (5th, 2.32), opponent batting average (5th, .201), WHIP (6th, 0.964), and wins (T9th, 6). Over a span of six starts this season from May 8-June 7, Gray produced a stretch in which he went 5-1 with a 0.84 ERA (4 ER/43.0 IP), with his only loss in that span coming in a complete-game 1-0 Rangers defeat on June 7 vs. St. Louis. He had a span of 17 consecutive scoreless innings from May 8-20, the longest scoreless stretch of his career, and recorded his 1000th career strikeout on April 26 at Cincinnati. He began a start on May 13 at Oakland with 6.2 hitless innings, the longest no-hit bid by a Texas starter in over five years. During game three of the 2023 World Series against the Diamondbacks, Gray was brought in at a crucial time and pitched three scoreless innings in a victory out of the bullpen. He only had one hit and had five strike outs in 30 pitches earning the win as the Rangers were up two games to one in the World Series going into game four. In 2022, Gray began the #MissionGraywWolf22 program hosting military groups to three Texas Rangers home games. In addition, he and his wife Jacklyn hosted a Toy Drive in December 2022 to collect toys for Mission Arlington/Mission Metroplex and secured over 900 toys that benefitted over 16,000 families. The December 2023 Toy Drive was another success. This past season, Gray hosted twelve #MissionGrayWolf22 nights for military families across the Texas community. Gray was named the Texas Rangers 2023 Lou Gehrig and Bob Feller Act of Valor nominee and is on the Board of the Taylor Hooton Foundation. <Back

Jason Johnson <Back Onondaga Nation, Wolf Clan Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2025 Jason Johnson worked with the National Lacrosse League’s (NLL) Rochester Knighthawks for 11 seasons and from 2019 to present with the Halifax Thunderbirds. He served more than 12 years as Assistant Coach and then was the Director of Player Development with Halifax. In 2014, he was a member of the coaching staff that won a league-record third straight NLL Championship. Johnson was named Head Coach for the first Haudenosaunee Nationals Women’s Box lacrosse team capturing the bronze medal at the 2024 World Championships in Utica, NY. Johnson was the General Manager for the Six Nations Arrows in the Ontario Junior “A” Lacrosse League. He was the offensive coach from 2004 to 2006, the team won three consecutive Ontario Championships and advanced to three Minto Cup Finals. He was also an assistant coach in 2009, 2010, 2022, and 2023. Johnson was an assistant coach with the Six Nations Minor in 1995 and coached for the past 30 years. In 2024 he assisted with Six Nations U11 Box team winning their first U11 Provincial “A” championship and in 2023 he was an assistant with Six Nations U9 minors winning their first U9 “A” Provincial Championship. In 2015, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Team Ontario at the U15 Field Nationals. As a scout for the Iroquois, they won a silver medal at the 2015 FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship. Johnson worked alongside his daughter Tawnie, as an assistant coach, and led the Western Mustangs women's lacrosse team to their fifth straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship. In 2014, he was a scout for the Iroquois Nationals and won a bronze medal at the 2014 FIL World Lacrosse Championship. In 2013, Johnson served as the head coach of the Team Iroquois Midget Box Team, and guided the 15 to 16-year-olds to a silver medal at the STX Midget Lacrosse Championship of Canada. He led the Six Nations Bantams to the gold medal at the 2012 Provincials. Johnson and 2024 NAIAHF inductee Curt Styres received Six Nations Minor Lacrosse Association Coaching Staff of the Year honors after leading the Bantams to the Provincial Championship. In 2012 Johnson worked as an assistant coach for the Iroquois Nationals at the U19 World Championships in Turku, Finland. The Iroquois won bronze and defeated Team USA in pool play to earn its first victory over the Americans in the tournament. Johnson was an assistant coach for the Hamilton Nationals for five seasons and the team advanced to three Major League Lacrosse Championships and won the 2009 title.

< Back Naomi Lang Strong Naomi Lang Strong Karuk Tribe of Northern California Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Naomi Lang was a competitive ice dancer, and represented the United States in numerous competitions around the world. She has five U.S. national titles, and has competed at five world championships, in which she placed in the top 10 each time. She is a member of the 2002 Olympic team, and became the first Native American woman to compete at the Winter Olympics. Naomi continued to skate professionally and appeared in several U.S. ice shows, including many of the Disson skating shows televised on NBC and the Hallmark Channel. She also toured extensively in Europe and Russia performing in Art on Ice, Kings on Ice with Evgeni Plushenko and composer and violinist Edvin Marton, and the Katarina Witt Farewell Tour. They performed at Jim Carrey's private Christmas party in Hollywood. She is a member of the Karuk tribe of northern California, and has Wiyot and Shasta decency. She was born in Arcata, California. Additionally, Naomi was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. Naomi has been instructing figure skating for 18 years, and her goal in teaching figure skating is to inspire people, not only from her own experiences, but share everything she has discovered and learned along the way. Whether it be from her own amazing coaches or things she learned touring the world for figure skating, she wants to help make dreams come true, and strive to find the right path for everyone, and with the right balance of fun and hard work She believe dreams can come true. <Back

Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Builder 2022 <Back Denise Tsadeyohdi Waterman is a Haudenosaunee Oneida Nation citizen and Turtle clan family member. Ms. Waterman has served as a teacher and Mathematics Specialist for nearly forty years at the Onondaga Nation School. In 2016 the NIEA-NYS awarded Teacher of the Year, and The NIEA awarded her the National Community Service Teacher of the Year in 2014. Ms. Waterman co-founded the Onondaga Nation Education organization, the Onondaga Nation Minor Athletics, & the Onondaga Nation OLA Junior Lacrosse, Advisory Board member for Ohngwe sports, and is a Founding Board member (1983) of the Iroquois National Lacrosse of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Denise Waterman said, “I enjoy applying Haudenosaunee ideology manifesting itself through the Haudenosaunee lacrosse, which allows the entire world to see, learn, and feel the pride of indigenous peoples and lacrosse enthusiasts from every corner of the world.” During her tenure as Executive Director of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse 2010-2015, she wrote, established, and negotiated the 2011 FIL merger initiative for the Haudenosaunee regarding the full nation membership for all our people within the world lacrosse organization. She also is widely noted for winning the bid to host the international 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships on Native Lands; under her auspices as Executive Director. The World Lacrosse. Inc., an international sporting organization, has awarded Ms. Waterman the International Spirit of Lacrosse Award in 1998, 2007, 2011, and 2016. Her colleagues say, “The sustainability and future of indigenous sports are protected, thanks to the vigilance and character and truth of Denise Waterman that is the energy, the positive leadership that is the inner wisdom that provides us a view beyond ourselves; at no expense to others.” Denise Waterman’s educational background includes a B.S., SUCO New York in Education, Master’s Syracuse University, CAS in Education Leadership, and Ed.D Executive Leadership candidate at LeMoyne College. Denise’s family members are Lawson, Madex, Kohen, Kimaura, Tia, and Gewas. Done:toh.

< Back Laticia DeCory Laticia DeCory Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Laticia "Doni" DeCory's life journey is the epitome of excellence that has resonated across multiple domains. DeCory's early years were marked by exceptional accomplishments in high school. A three-time first team South Dakota all-state athlete in basketball, she was bestowed with the honor of being part of the All-USA Today South Dakota team and the USA Today Athlete of the Year for South Dakota. Notably, she was a three-time state shot put champion and held a state record in shot put. She was named valedictorian from Pine Ridge High School. Her collegiate journey continued the legacy of triumph, with DeCory playing basketball at Brigham Young University (BYU) and excelling in track and field at Utah State. Her achievements included being a part of the 1994 Big West conference team champions and establishing a Western Athletic Conference Shot Put record. She continued to carve her legacy, becoming the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year for BYU women's basketball. DeCory diligently training for the US Olympic track and field team as a heptathlete and contributing to the inaugural Indigenous nation handball development team. She was recognized as a Converse All-American in high school and an Academic All-American in college at Utah State. She also was a Divison 1 assistant coach for the University of South Dakota. DeCory's prowess was not confined to the sporting arena. In her professional career, her influence extended into public health and medical care, with notable roles at the CDC and two decades of service as a respected pulmonologist and respiratory care specialist. She further made her mark in corporate healthcare as a Quality and Compliance Director for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and other private facilities. However, it's her enduring commitment to youth development that sets her apart. As the director of Youth Opportunity and the co-founder of the BEAR program, she has directly impacted the lives of over 3,000 young individuals, guiding them towards professional careers in fields ranging from medicine to academia. Laticia "Doni" DeCory's life is a testament to the heights that can be reached through unwavering dedication and a commitment to excellence. <Back

Iroquois Nationals 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships Silver Medalists Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back Haudenosaunee Nationals are World Silver Medalists The Haudenosaunee National Lacrosse Team, the Iroquois Nationals, were the 2011 Silver Medalist at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague, Czech Republic on May 28, 2011. This was the third consecutive indoor world tournament medal standing for the Iroquois Nationals having also achieved a Silver Medal in the 2007 games in Nova Scotia, and the 2002 games in Toronto. The Iroquois Nationals were undefeated at the end of the first round by beating Team Ireland 23-3, Czech Republic 25-5, and Team USA 11-10. Due to their outstanding record, the Haudenosaunee Team received a bye in the quarterfinals and defeated the home team, the Czech Republic 19-6 in the semi-final game. This win put the Iroquois Nationals team in the Championship game versus Team Canada. It was a hard fought game, the premier Goalie Mike Thompson was injured during the first half and the Iroquois Nationals rookie, Angus Goodleaf stepped into the goal. The final score of the World Championship Game was Canada 13 Iroquois 6. The 2011 WILC Tournament was a Win: Win for the Haudenosaunee National Team. It was less than a year ago when another indigenous squad of 23 premiere athletes stood in anticipation at an airport gate for an opportunity to participate in the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship. This year was different for the Iroquois Nationals, the team boarded the airplane traveling as Haudenosaunee Diplomats, and they received a warm welcome by the host country the Czech Republic. The Iroquois Nationals showed the world a high caliber sportsmanship and completed this tournament by returning home with a Silver Medal. Oyane’! It was an extreme honor felt by all 23 elite lacrosse players to wear the Iroquois Nationals team colors for the 2011 WILC. Gewas Schindler, General Manager said, “Our players have a wealth of professional indoor and field lacrosse experiences along with numerous NCAA Collegiate Lacrosse Championships.” Each of the 23 players have worn the colors of various professional teams but define the epitome of lacrosse is to be a team member of the Iroquois Nationals. In addition to the Silver Medal the Iroquois Nationals received 4 additional individual awards, All World Team and Most Valuable Transition Player in the World –Cody Jamieson, and All World Team and Most Valuable Defensive Player in the World – Sid Smith, team captain. The 2011 Iroquois Nationals team members are: Cory Bomberry, Brett Bucktooth, Ron Cogan, Brandon Francis, Angus Goodleaf, Dean Hill, Stu Hill, Travis Hill, Blue Hill, Peter Jacobs, Cody Jamieson, Isaiah Kicknosway, Mike Lazore, Tom Montour, Jeff Powless, Andy Secore, Jeff Shattler, Sid Smith, Brandon Swamp, Mike Thompson, Holden Vyse, and Roger Vyse. The Iroquois Nationals 2011 Management includes, Head Coach Duane Jacobs, Assistant Coaches Mouse Henry and Stu Monture, General Manager Gewas Schindler, Assistant Manager Ansley Jemison and the support staff of Chester Goodleaf and Frank David. This year, each of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is represented within the 2011 Iroquois Nationals National Team and Staff. The national team also includes two members from the Ojibwa Nation. “We are proud to announce that the National Lacrosse League 2011 MVP is Jeff Shattler; a player named to the 2011 Iroquois Nationals Team,” said Dr. Percy Abrams, Executive Director. The Iroquois Nationals were pleased to be in Prague, the hosts of the third WILC. Dr. Percy Abrams said, “The Iroquois Nationals Team will take this time as an opportunity to thank the Onondaga Nation Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers for their enduring support and primary sponsorship.” “We also like to thank Mr. Curt Styres, Iroquois Nationals alumni, and the Oneida Indian Nation for their sponsorship.” The Iroquois National would like to acknowledge the many volunteers from the Haudenosaunee communities who assisted the program this year. In closing the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program extends a “Niawenha” to the People of the Czech Republic for their overwhelming support for the 2011 Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team. Dane’tho. The Iroquois Nationals was established in 1983 by the Haudenosaunee Grand Council government as the National Lacrosse Team. In 1989 the Federation of International Lacrosse’s parent organization the International Federation of Lacrosse, sanctioned the Haudenosaunee Iroquois Nationals as the 5th member nation with full membership status. The Iroquois Nationals began their first FIL competition in Perth, Australia in 1990. Each year afterward the Iroquois Nationals have participated, prepared, and/or ranked as a world lacrosse competitor in the game which holds such a deep cultural significance for the Haudenosaunee.

< Back Travis Kilgour Travis Kilgour Tuscarora Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2026 Travis Kilgour is the youngest of the Kilgour brothers trio. He was a part of teams that won back-to-back Minto Cups (1990-1991) that is for the top Canadian Junior A title, back-to-back-to-back Mann Cups (1994-1996) awarded annually to the top Senior squad in Canada and a MILL championship (1996). Travis had 55 goals and 60 assists in 51 games with the Buffalo Bandits over six seasons. He was taken 17th overall in the 1994 MILL entry draft. Travis scored 74 goals and recorded 85 assists in his 73-game career with the Buffalo Bandits, Washington Power, New Jersey Storm and Montreal Express. He began playing during the 1995 season and last took the field during the 2002 campaign. <Back

< Back Levi Horn Levi Horn Northern Cheyenne Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Levi Horn is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne and resides in Lame Deer, Montana. Horn attributes his work ethic to his mother Julia Horn that raised three children on her own. Childhood was hard as poverty and the past trauma of Native people were very noticeable around Levi. The on thing that kept Levi looking forward was the chance to play football. Horn remembers telling all of his friends when he was six years old that he would play in the NFL. Having this dream pushed him to commit to school in high school and stay out of trouble. In high school he earned all-conference and all-state honors in Washington at the tight-end position for a struggling school. This is were he caught the attention of local universities and committed to the University of Oregon. Horn redshirted at Oregon and transferred at the end of the year and admits that he wasn’t ready. Horn transferred to the University of Montana. Horn recalls seeing other Native Americans on campus and professors that helped his confidence on the academic side. His first year at Montana he saw substantial playing time due to injuries on the team and he knew that he could play at this level. Horn then started his junior year at left tackle and he was named All Big Sky Conference. In 2009, he was named Third Team All American Associated Press and The Sports Network, First Team All-American AFCA and received the University of Montana Paul Weskamp Award. Horn then signed his Undrafted Free Agent contract with the Chicago Bears on draft day. His first year he made the practice squad and the Bears went to the NFC Championship game. His second year Horn made the 53 man roster under offensive line coach Mike Tice. In 2011, he was honored as a member of the Top 40 under 40 with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Horn now works and coaches at his alma mater and visits reservations to speak about the importance of having a dream <Back

< Back Awehiyo Thomas Awehiyo Thomas Cayuga Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Awehiyo Thomas (Beautiful Flower) is Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She played competitive lacrosse on the international, NCAA DI and professional stage, with many Player of the Game awards. Awehiyo first started playing lacrosse in 1998 for Six Nations Girls Field Lacrosse, and later traveled to Cattaraugus, NY playing many years with the Seneca Girls Lacrosse Club under Sandy Jemison. In 2003, she had her first international experience with U-19 Team Canada, finishing third and being named the third-leading scorer on the squad. Awehiyo was a walk-on starter at Syracuse University, who transferred from Canisius College in her junior year. She started all 21 games and helped the team to its first NCAA Final Four in 2008 - as a senior she started all 19 games and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. Awehiyo was a proud member of the Haudenosaunee National Women’s Lacrosse (HNWL) Team for many years, competing on the world stage in 2009, 2013 and 2017. In 2018, she was the first Haudenosaunee woman to play professional lacrosse with the Baltimore Ride in the UWLX league. Most recently, she was a member of the HNWL Sr. Team which placed first at the Pan American Lacrosse Association in 2019. As a veteran lacrosse player of 24 years and mother of four, soon to be mother of five, she continues to be a role model for many Indigenous girls coming up. She comes from a long line of great lacrosse players in her family including Grandfather Ivan Thomas, the 1997 Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee and great-grandfather Joseph Logan Jr., maker of the “Logan Special” lacrosse stick. To this day, Awehiyo’s lacrosse display at Woodland Cultural Center in Brantford, Ontario continues to be up for the public to view. Photos: Reems Landreth and Awehiyo Thomas <Back

< Back Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis Seaconke Wampanoag Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 Kali “KO” Mequinonoag Reis hails from East Providence RI, is a member of the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe and is the first Indigenous Woman fighter to become a World Champion. As a Professional Boxer, Reis has attained six World Titles in two weight classes and is currently the WBA, IBO and WBO Super Lightweight World Champion and is on the “Road to Undisputed”. Kali made history when she participated in HBOs’ first ever Women’s televised in 2018. She uses her boxing platform to spread awareness on various issues such as the MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women). Living up to her given name Mequinonoag, translated to Many Feathers/Many Talents, Kali is a certified Motorcycle/Small Engines Technician and has worked as a Residential Counselor since 2009. She has found healing in sharing her story and mentoring troubled youth with a relatable approach, as well as traveling to speak with and support various communities in hopes of being a positive example to “Never throw in the towel no matter what punches life throws at you”. In 2021, Kali made her acting debut with the lead role in the film ‘Catch the Fair One; in which she also received a writer’s credit. This film highlights the MMIW epidemic & earned a Special Jury Mention award at the Tribeca film festival. Recently, an Indie Film Spirit Award nominee for Best Female Lead Actress was announced for Reis’ performance. This mixed Cape Verdean/Native American has a “Voice for the Voiceless.” <Back

Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Brian Chrupalo Pine Creek Frist Nation 282 Induction Category: Year Inducted Official 2023 <Back Brian Chrupalo was born and raised in the city of Winnipeg. Brian grew up in Manitoba housing that is a low-income housing complex in the cities north end. Brian is married to Lori and they have raised three adult boys, Tanner and twins Andrew and Carter. Brian is the first Treaty Status Canadian (registered to 282 Pine Creek First Nation) to work in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an on field official. Brian has worked seventeen seasons in the CFL. During his career he has worked 278 games, he has been assigned numerous playoff assignments and worked in five Grey Cup championships. Brian was part of the 2017 season CFL/NFL officials exchange program which saw CFL officials work NFL camps and a preseason game in Jacksonville Florida. Since September 2021, Brian has been learning the Ojibwe language by taking virtual classes, this provided the unique opportunity on September 2022 to allow Brian to announce all of the game’s penalties in Ojibwe and English during the truth and reconciliation game. This was the first time in the history of the Canadian Football League that penalties were announced by an on field official in an indigenous language. Brian will announce the penalties again during the same game for the 2023 season When Brian isn’t working as a Staff Sergeant for the Winnipeg Police Service or working a CFL game he can be found volunteering as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Bear Clan Patrol Inc., an indigenous community-based organization. Brian was instrumental in obtaining funding for a food hamper program during Covid-19. This program saw four hundred families receive healthy food every week for a year. Brian will be introducing marginalized indigenous youth, opportunities to participate in football camps in 2023.

Fern Spencer <Back Hopi/Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Fern L. Spencer is Hopi from the Water clan and Navajo from the Honeycomb and Towering House clans and lives in Tohatchi, NM. She recently retired after 49 years in education and coaching at Tohatchi High School. Spencer was born in Phoenix, AZ. She was a 1968 graduate of Gallup High School. She attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM. She walked on to the team at a time when there was six person basketball for women. By the end of her time at the university women’s basketball transitioned to five person basketball. When she received her first teaching job in 1974, she was asked if she was interested in coaching the girls’ basketball team. She accepted and taught for 49 years including 37 years coaching basketball and ten years in cross country. During that time she accumulated 517 wins and the team were 1982 New Mexico State Runner Up and earned six district titles, six trips to state, eight All Star teams, and coached the NM All Stars in Australia 2006. Spencer was named the 2004 New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year. She received a plaque for coaching 400 wins in 2003 when she received the New Mexico Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award. She also received honors as 2006 Athletic Director of the Year, 2014 New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, 2019 National Federation of Coaches Hall of Fame and 2023 New Mexico High School Distinguished Service Award. She was named to the Navajo Times Hall of Fame and coached games between New Mexico and Arizona after the season ended from 1990 to 1994. Spencer was also President of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association and the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association. She is also the current vice-president for the All-Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Native American Rodeo Historical Society. She had a great experience coaching student athletes and her philosophy has been academics first then athletics.